Circular collector



April 27, 1937. G. 1.. MOREHEAD CIRCULAR COLLECTOR Filed July l2,'l955 4Sheets-Sheet l Invenrfor G220?" e I. .Zfirakzad 39 April 1937- G. L.MOREHEAD CIRCULAR COLLECTOR Filed July 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q.) drm W W L z 3 r n w t wk v t nnn l g 11 & Md. g 5 mm mm 4 n. m T fl m x[I] I, wm H mm //\A\/// N m v v r N N8 Q w\ April 27, 1937. G.LfMOREHEAD CIRCULAR COLLECTOR Filed July 12, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I IIII III l litl Z72 vn 1507" eorye Z. Jforeead @QQ Apnl 2 7, 1937. ca.1.. MOREHCEAD CIRCULAR COLLECTOR Filed July 12. 19:55

4 Sheets-She't 4 Invent/ 07" 619%. Jim" eaaz 5 iltorm gj Patented Apr.27, 1937 UNITED STATES CIRCULAR COLLECTOR George L. Morehead,Philadelphia, Pa.', assignor to Link-Belt Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application July 12, 1935, Serial No. 31,027

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a sewage treatment tank and in the form hereshown comprises a sludge conveying assembly mounted for movement about acircular settling tank.

It has for one object to provide means for mounting and positioning thesludge conveying assembly independently of the influent nozzle orconnection. Another object is to provide means for supporting the sludgeconveying assembly in part upon the wall of the tank and in part uponthe floor of the tankadjacent the influent connection.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification andclaims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a generally vertical section through a portion of the tankshowing the conveyor assembly in position; I

Figure 2 is a plan view of the conveyor assembly with parts of theskimmer assembly omitted;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale, showing aportion of the influent connection;

Figure 4 is a sectional view generally similar to Figure 1, showing amodified iorm;

Figure 5 is a transverse, generally vertical sectional detail taken atline 5-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a partial plan view 01 the form of the device shown inFigure 4;

Figure '7 is a section taken at line 1-1 01' Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a sectional detail, taken at line 2-6 01! Figure 1.

Like parts are designated by like charactersthroughout the specificationand drawings.

l is a tank wall. 2 is the floor oi the tank. 3 is a generally annularsludge hopper provided with a sludge draw-oft connection 4. 5 is an.

infiuent conduit which is connected to an elbow 6. The elbow 6communicates, as shown generally in Figure 1 and in detail in Figure 3,with a member which may be cast or otherwise formed and comprises atubular section I which is thickened at a point below its upper ordischarge end to provide shoulders 8 and 9. The member I is mounted inor upon the floor oi the tank as is also the elbow connection 6.

vAbout its upper edge the tank is provided with anoverflow trough Hifrom which any suitable discharge connection may. carry the materialwhich spills over into the trough. An adjustable weir ll may be providedabout the edge of the tank. On the top of the tank wall I is mounted aconcentric track I2. A pair of flanged rollers H are mounted to run uponthe track l2 and to support one end of a bridge l4. A supportingstructure l5 depends downwardly and 5 extends toward the center of thetank from the bridge ll. At its inner and lower end the supportingstructure I5 is fixed to a central ring l6 which rests upon the shoulder8 of the member 1. Thus the bridge and the supporting structure 10 I5form a unitary assembly supported at its upper and outer end on thetrack l2 and at its lower, inner or central end by means of the ring I6upon the shoulder 8. A sludge plow I1 is positioned along the lower edgeof the supporting structure 15 and extends generally from the side wallsof the tank to and across the annular sludge trough 3.

There is a motor I 8 positioned on the bridge I l which drivesareduction gear H! which at one end drives a pocketed wheel 20. At itsother end the reduction gear drives a beveled pinion 2| which mesheswith a second beveled pinion 22 upon the shaft 23. A driving sprocket 24is mounted upon the shaft 23. The sprocket 24 by 25 means of a chain 25drives a sprocket 26 on a shaft 21, which shaft carries a pair of chaindriving sprockets 28, 28, each of which engages a chain 29. The chainspass about idler sprockets 30 mounted generally at the outer lower endoi. 30 the supporting structure l5 and they pass about other idlersprockets 3|, 3| 'mounted generally at the inner, lower end of thesupporting structure l6. Mounted to extend between the chains 28 areflights 32. The conveyor comprising the chain and flights moves in thedirection of the arrow shown in Figure 1 and thus moves sludge which hascollected on the bottom of the tank toward and into the sludge trough.

About the outer edge of the sludge trough or hopper is formed a shoulder33 in which may be situated an angle 34 to form a track.

An annular cover plate 35 is provided for the sludge hopper and overliesthe major portion 01' the hopper. It is supported at one side from thesupporting structure l5 by arms 36 which flt into and engage with socketmembers 31 in the cover plate. Generally opposite these arms and socketsother arms 38 extend downwardly from the ring I6 and by means of sockets39 engage and support the sludge hopper cover. Thus this cover forms apart of the bridge assembly and moves with it. The hopper cover is cutaway as at 40 so that material moved centrally by the conveyor flights32 can be de- 5 posited through the opening 40 into the sludge members.

hopper or trough 3.

While the supporting structure l5 may be attached to and supported uponthe ring IS in any manner, in the formshown in Figure 2 that ring isprovided with lateral extensions 4!, 4! upon which the side members ofthe supporting structure I5 rest and to which they are attached.

As a means for scraping the top of the cover plate 35 it is providedwith a fixed plow 52 which overlies the plate 35 and as shown in Figure1 is so shaped that it passes under the sludge plow H.

In order to furnish current to operate the motor a collector system asshown in Figure 1 is provided. As there shown the collector systemcomprises three conductors 613 which may be mounted upon a bracket 44fixed on the inner wall of the tank above the water level. An equalnumber of collector arms 35 is provided and these arms carry contactmembers 46 which contact the members 63. By suitable wires and conduitsnot here shown in detail, current is furnished to the members from anysuitable source and also by suitable wires or conduits not here shownthe current picked up by the collectors is transmitted to the motor 88.By this mechanism, as the bridge assembly moves about the tank, currentis always available through the collector system. The details of thisparticular collector system are not shown as they form no essential partof the present invention and other current furnishing means might beprovided.

While the bridge might be caused to turn about the tank in any desiredmanner it is here shown as being moved by the motor and by the pocketedWheel 20 which engages an endless chain or cable ll which lies withinthe overflow trough Ml, passes up over a sheave 458 and through a hollowtube 39. As shown in Figure 2 this tube also carries the collector armsfor the collector system.

The lnfluent, after passing through the elbow 6, may be discharged intothe tank in any manner and through any desired nozzle or outlet openingmember. In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 a slightly flared orconical member 50 is used.

For some installations the conveying assembly just described includingin general the bridge, the supporting mechanism, the sludge plow and theconveyor, may be used alone. For other purposes the skimming conveyor orassembly, which is shown superimposed upon the supporting structure l5may be used. This second supporting structure which will now bedescribed may thus either be used or omitted. When it is used it formsin efiect a unit with the bridge and conveying assembly alreadydescribed.

The second conveyor supporting assembly, when present, comprises abridge structure 5i which forms in effect a continuation of the bridgeit. It extends inwardly slightly beyond the center of the tank and issupported from the structure l5 by a second supporting structure 52which comprises necessary frame and bracing The bridge 5!! carries acurrent collector 53 which encloses a current distributor 5 3 whichlatter is carried upon a hollow or tubular support 55 extending upwardlythrough the elbow 6 and the nozzle 50. The support is preferably fixedin the foundation as indicated in Figure 1 and encloses 'an electricalconductor 56 which is connected to the current distributor 5 3. By thismeans electrical current may be brought upwardly to the currentdistributor from any suitable source and is carried from the distributorto the motor through a cable or conduit 51. It is to be understood thatwhere the current collector assembly just described is'used, the trolleymechanism heretofore described will ordinarily not be used. In otherwords, only one means is normally necessary for supplying current to themotor on the bridge assembly and while both are shown here, ordinarilybut one will be used.

Ordinarily where the upper conveyor assembly 5!, 52 is used, a skimmingconveyor or device is mounted upon it at such height as to skim andconvey material which has collected upon the surface. This may be anadditional conveyor or may be formed as part of the radially movingconveyor already described. It is shown in that form herewith and theupper run of the conveyor acts as a skimmer moving material radiallyaway from the center of the tank while the lower run acts as a conveyormoving material radially toward the center of the tank for dischargeinto the sludge hopper or trough.

In the modified form shown in Figure 4, the construction of the tank issubstantially the same as that described above in connection with theshowing of Figure 1 and so also is the bridge assembly comprising thebridge I l, and the supporting structure l5, but the upper supportingstructure carrying the skimmer part of the conveyor has been omitted sothat the conveyor acts only as a sludge conveyor effective on the bottomof the tank to move the sludge radially inwardly to the, sludge hopperor trough. The driving mechanism for the conveyor is the same as abovedescribed and so also is the means for moving the bridge assembly. Thebridge assembly, however, instead of being supported at its inner endupon a collar or ring about the infiuent nozzle, is supported upon apair of rollers 58 which are carried in supporting brackets 59positioned at the inner end of the supporting structure l5. Theserollers run on the track members 341 which are positioned about theouter edge of the annular sludge trough or hopper. The cover plate 35 isthe same as shown and described in connection with the earlier figures.It is cut away as at ii! to permit discharge of the material from theradial conveyor through it into the sludge hopper, and the cover platemay also carry supporting rollers 60, which run upon the track 3%.

Communicating with the elbow t is an influent conduit ti wli'ch mayterminate in an outwardly flared or generally conical nozzle portion 62.

- Fixed to the member Si is a sludge plow 63 generally similar to theplow 32, since it overlies the cover plate 35, and is eifective toscrape material from the cover plate as the latter moves under the plow.

It is to be understood that either form of bridge, for example thatshown in Figure 1 or that shown in Figure 4, might be supported uponwheels or rollers or upon a collar or ring about or adjacent theinfiuent nozzle, and while each form of bridge assembly is shown withone support, each might be supported upon the support shown with theother form.

As shown in Figures 1 and 7, there may be mounted upon the bridgeassembly a scum plow 5 3. It is preferably positioned along one side ofthe supporting structure l5 and extends somewhat above and somewhatbelow the water level. As shown in Figure 7 as the bridge assembly movesabout the tank the plow M is in rear of the chains 29 and their flights32, so that the plow 6d and flights 32 together serve to collect and toconvey scum as indicated in Figures 1 and 7 in particular. The scum plowadjacent its inner end may have the bent portion 65 provided with theflexible wiper 66 to engage the member 55, and at its outer end may havea rearwardly bent portion 61' terminating in a portion 68, which in thecase of a round tank may be bent concentrically with that tank or may bestraight if desired. Hinged to the bridge M are a pair of rearwardlyextending arms '69, which carry a scraper or plow section 10. Thismovable plow section lies between the portion 68 of the plow and thescum bailie plate ll positioned above the tank upon supports 12 andspaced inwardly from the adjustable weir II. A check chain 73 may beprovided by means of which the downward-movement of the movable plowsection is limited.

The mechanism above described will collect scum from the surface of thetank and move toward the edge or periphery as the bridge assembly ismoved about the tank. While any means may be provided for dischargingthe scum so collected, one suitable form is illustrated herewith. It ispreferably a fixed scum trough 14 from which a scum outlet pipe 15conveys the scum to any suitable discharge or disposal point. The scumtrough is provided on one side with the inclined surface member 16. Asshown particularly in Figure 8, when the bridge assembly passes aboutthe tank, moving in the direction of the arrow shown in Figures 7 and 8,the movable plowsection 10, carrying scum with it, contacts and ridesupwardly upon the member 16 and so scrapes and discharges the scum intothe scum trough 14. The plow 10 remains in the raised position until ithas passed completely over the scum trough. Then it is no longer held upand falls or moves downward to the full line position shown in Figure 8,its downward movement being limited by the check chain 13 and it extendsdownwardly below the surface of the liquid within the tank and forms acontinuation of the plow member as a whole, preferably extendingdownwardly as far as does the plow.

While the invention in the form shown herewith is adapted primari y foruse as a settling and separating tank for treating sewage and liquidwastes and for removing scum from the surface of the liquid treated, aswell as for removing settled and settling solids from the body of theliquid, it is not limited to this use and might be used for thetreatment of minerals and for treatment of. other materials which areneither sewage nor other liquid wastes. Where the expression "settledsolids occurs in the claims it is to be taken as meaning those solidswhich have settled or which are in the process of settling upon. ortoward the bottom of the tank. The tank is filled with liquid carryingsolids and these solids settle toward the bottom of the tank. The sludgeplow and the conveyor move the solids toward the sludge trough or hopperfor removal and in this process not only the material which has settledand which is resting upon the bottom of the tank, but some materialwhich is in process of settling will also be carried toward anddischarged in the sludge hopper and the expression settled solids is tobe taken as including, therefore, both the material which has actuallysettled upon the bottom or floor of the tank and other material which,while it has not yet completely settled, is in process of settling.

I claim:

1. In combination in a tank adapted to receive liquid, a liquid inletmember in the bottom of the tank spaced from the walls thereof and meansfor removing settled solids from the tank, comprising a fixed trough, adischarge from it and means for moving said solids to said trough,comprising a movable conveyor assembly mounted within the tank and meansfor moving it, said assembly resting in part upon the floor of the tankabout said liquid inlet member and in part upon the tank wall.

2. In combination in a tank adapted to receive liquid, a liquid inletmember and means for removing settled solids from the tank, comprising afixed trough, a discharge from it and means for moving said solids tosaid trough, comprising a movable conveyor assembly mounted within thetank and means for moving it about a vertical axis of rotation adjacentone end thereof, said assembly resting at a plurality of points upon thetank structure, the conveyor assembly including a radially disposed plowand a plurality of conveyor flights and means for driving them along theface of the plow in the direction of the fixed trough.

3. In combination in a tank adapted to receive liquid, a liquid inletmember in the bottom of the tank spaced from the walls thereof and meansfor removing settled solids from the tank,

comprising a fixed trough, a discharge from it and means for moving saidsolids to said trough, comprising a movable conveyor assembly mountedwithin the tank and means for moving it about a vertical axis ofrotation adjacent one end thereof, said assembly resting in part uponsaid inlet member and in part upon the tank wall, the conveyor assemblyincluding a radially disposed plow and a plurality of conveyor flightsand means for driving them' along the face of the plow in the directionof the fixed trough.

4. In combination in a tank adapted to receive liquid, a liquid inletmember and means for removing settled solids from the tank, comprising afixed trough, a discharge from it and means for moving said solids tosaid trough, comprising a movable conveyor assembly mounted within thetank and means for moving it, said assembly resting at a plurality ofpoints upon the tank structure, said assembly carrying a conveyorcomprising flights and means for driving the conveyor to move theconveyor flights in the direction of the fixed trough, said conveyorhaving an upper and a lower run, the upper run positioned near thesurface of the liquid and moving floating material toward the peripheryof the tank, the lower run positioned near the bottom of the tank andmoving settled material toward the center.

5. In combination in a tank adapted to receive liquid, a liquid inletmember and means for removing settled solids from the tank, comprising afixed trough, a discharge from it and means for moving said solids tosaid trough, comprising a movable conveyor assembly mounted within thetank and means for moving it, said assembly resting at a plurality ofpoints upon the tank structure, said assembly carrying a conveyorcomprising fiights and means for driving the conveyor to move theconveyor flights in the direction of the fixed trough, said conveyorhaving an upper and a lower run, the upper run positioned near thesurface of the liquid and moving floating material toward the peripheryof the tank, the lower run positioned near the bottom of the tank andmoving settled material toward the center, and a scum plow supported onthe movable conveyor assembly adjacent the upper run of the conveyor andextending from a point adjacent the center of the tank to a pointadjacent its periphery.

6. In combination in a tank adapted to receive liquid, a liquid inletmember in the bottom of the tank spaced from the walls thereof and meansfor removing settled solids from the tank, comprising a fixed relativelyextended, open topped trough, a discharge from it and means for movingsaid solids to said trough, comprising a generally radially movableconveyor assembly mounted within the tank and including a chain andflight conveyor and means for moving it, said assembly resting in partupon said inlet member and in part upon the tank, and a cover for saidtrough, mounted to move with said conveyor assembly and having anopening in line with said conveyor.

7. In combination in a tank adapted to receive liquid, a liquid inletmember and means for remov ing settled solids from the tank, comprisinga fixed trough, a discharge from it and means for moving said solids tosaid trough, comprising a movable conveyor assembly mounted within thetank and means for moving it, and a cover for said trough mounted tomove with said conveyor assembly and having an opening in line with saidconveyor and a fixed scraping member on said inlet member extending overand adapted to sweep said cover as it moves past said scraper.

8. In combination in a tank adapted to receive liquid, a liquid inletmember in the bottom of the tank spaced from the walls thereof and meansfor removing settled solids from the tank, comprising a fixed trough, adischarge from it and means for moving said solids to said trough,comprising a movable conveyor assembly mounted within the tank and meansfor moving it, said assembly resting in part upon said inlet member andin part upon the tank, and a cover for said trough, supported from andadapted to move with said conveyor assembly and having an opening inline with said conveyor, and a fixed scraping member on said inletmember extending over and adapted to sweep said cover as it moves pastsaid scraper.

9. In combination in a tank adapted to receive liquid, a liquid inletmember in the bottom thereof spaced from the wallsv thereof, and meansfor removing settled solids from the floor of the tank including a fixedtrough formed in the bottom of the tank encircling the liquid inletmember, a discharge leading from the trough, means for moving the solidsto said trough comprising a movable conveyor assembly mounted within thetank, means for moving it, a cover for the trough movable with theconveyor assembly having an opening always in line with the conveyor,the cover being located entirely below the conveyor and in substantiallyhorizontal alignment with the floor of the tank.

GEORGE L. MORE 1 a I

